A mother was given a 12 month community order and ordered to pay a £120 penalty after a district judge described her son’s attendance at Herne Bay High School as “one of the worst records I have ever seen”.

Between July 28 2016 and March 31 2017, Joyce Healey’s son only attended one session out of a possible 222 at the school, giving him an overall attendance record of 0.4%.

Miss Healey told Folkestone Magistrates' Court today (September 20) that her son was refusing to go to school as he was being bullied.

The 40-year-old said: “He met a boy who he thought would be a protector and he turned out to be the worst friend in the world.

“He doesn’t leave the house. He has no friends. It’s difficult, it’s been hard for all of us.”